I love learning about food history and foods that were adapted to fit local palates, so when this submission for ginger beef came in for my “5 Surprising Uses for Ginger from Around the World,” I was so excited! Ginger beef is often associated purely with Chinese culture, but there is much more to this recipe than meets the eye. Plus, fried beef in a sweet and sour sauce never fails!

This ginger beef recipe comes from Maria in Calgary, Alberta in Canada. Made from ginger, sirloin beef, red chili, carrots, green peppers, corn starch, egg, and soy sauce, this dish holds a delicious combination of flavors. Once you batter and fry the beef strips, they are coated in a sweet, sour, sticky sauce and usually served with thinly sliced carrots and rice or noodles. Maria clarifies that although many people believe ginger beef is a Chinese food staple, it was invented by a Chinese-Canadian chef, George Wong, at the Silver Inn in Calgary in the 1970s. In doing so, he deliberately made Chinese food more popular among Canadians.

What is so genius about this creation is that Albertans are very proud of the beef they raise, so ginger beef marries the two cultures beautifully! However, when George Wong initially made this dish, there wasn’t actually any ginger in it; people simply called it ginger beef because they mistakenly thought ginger was in the sauce. Later on, people added it to their recipes, and it perfectly balances the flavors in ginger beef dishes today.

My ginger beef tasted and smelled like takeaway food, which made me feel so accomplished, seeing as I made it in the comforts of my own home! Although I was intimidated by frying the beef without a deep fryer, it turned out great; I would advise that you cut the beef into smaller pieces, as this makes it even crispier. I also did not double fry the beef because it seemed like a lot of oil, but I think if I had stuck to the frying instructions, my beef would have turned out even more delicious, so don’t let the oil scare you!

The ginger sauce is so robust, and it really rounds out this meal in a way only ginger can. Seeing Chinese-inspired flavors and Alberta’s favorite protein combine before my eyes perfectly exemplified the advantages of embracing other cultures and coming together to create something inspired. Give this classic ginger beef recipe a try, and let me know how you like it!